In Chipper's case, it's about the position of his hands. For Andruw, it's about overstriding at the plate.

"Andruw does everything perfectly in the cage, but I think he gets too excited about getting it done in games," Pendleton said. "I've got to find a way to slow him down. Hopefully, we'll find that Midas touch soon."

Chipper thought he had his problem solved when his father flew in from Texas to work with him two weeks ago, but he's still flaring his back elbow, which causes his bat to loop through the strike zone. After working with Pendleton, he thought he'd solved the problem.

"If today's session was any indication, I'm pretty pleased with the way it's going," said Chipper, who was 0 for 4 in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Orioles. "But only game at-bats will tell. When you see me hitting balls up the middle and hitting them the other way with authority, that's when you'll know I'm back."

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While the offensive side of his game has been lacking, Chipper Jones' defense has been outstanding. In the two weeks since the left fielder returned to third base after a two-year absence, he's made just one throwing error and handled more than his share of tough chances.

"I feel like a much better third baseman now than back in the days when I played there," he said. "They say defense comes with age. I don't know, maybe you just settle down. Before, when I used to a grounder, I'd gun it over to first. Now I just take my time and make an easy throw there."

With his average hovering around .215, Jones joked with second baseman Marcus Giles the other night that, "I never thought I'd be known only for my defense."

"Don't worry," Giles replied dryly, "you're not."

Said Jones: "I'm proud of the transition I've made and I'm happy to be back there. The last thing I wanted to do was move back there and have people say I was a defensive liability. I don't want there to be any more talk of my position being at first or in the outfield. I want to stay at third base."

LaRoche hopes to rejoin Braves soon

Horacio Ramirez participated in Adam LaRoche's rehab Saturday afternoon, standing in left field and throwing balls to LaRoche's right and left so he could simulate scooping low throws and backhanding grounders. The first baseman, out since May 28 with a separated left shoulder, has been taking live batting practice for three days, swinging with about 75 percent effort.

LaRoche is hopeful of starting a brief rehab assignment with a minor league team when the team returns home Monday and rejoining the Braves by the end of the week.

"Throwing feels great," LaRoche said. "The only time I have any trouble is when I'm throwing on the run, when it's all arm. I'm ready to get back in there. Whether I can help or not, I don't know."

Giles still mending

Giles, meanwhile, is at least two weeks away from returning to the lineup. Trainers have not allowed the second baseman to start swinging a bat yet, though he has begun throwing.

It has been six weeks since Giles suffered a broken right collarbone in a collision with center fielder Andruw Jones. At the time, doctors said it would be 6-8 weeks before he could start a rehab assignment, so he's right on target to return after the All-Star break.